Bringing
Europe together
Lewes Links is a voluntary organisation set up to develop links with
countries in central and eastern Europe. It is now in its 10th year. In the early 1990s
the concern was to offer friendship to people who had started on a series of revolutionary
changes with the collapse of the old communist system. Equally, people in England needed
insight into the identities, cultures and new politics of the eastern half of Europe.
Activities in the 1990s were very varied. Each year open meetings have offered talks and
discussions about a current topic. Visitors from eastern Europe have been welcomed and
hosted in family homes. Practical projects have ranged from arranging for local government
professional staff to gain experience of our local democratic systems, to a campaign to
raise funds to buy new livestock and equipment for a village near Dubrovnik destroyed in
the Jugoslav civil war.
The name Lewes Links keeps our focus on the history of struggle for the
"rights of man" and independent thinking. Lewes Links identifies not
only with the town of Lewes and the county of East Sussex, but wherever in Sussex and
south-east England there is an outgoing interest in central and eastern Europe.
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Arts and cultural exchange
Cultural exchanges have included music and art
exhibitions. There was a major exhibition in Lewes House and in the Star Gallery of
Hungarian artists. Artists from Lewes and Newhaven have in turn been invited to Veszprém
and Balatonfüred in Hungary. There have been visits from the Hóvirág choir and
the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, both based in Veszprém. During the 1997 Lewes Festival
there was an exhibition of folk woodcarving from northern Slovakia, together with works by
Lewes artists who had visited central Europe. Later that year Lewes Links
arranged the first exhibition in the UK of artists from Belarus.
Ján ©eliga ~ S
mamičkou
a traditional wood carving from Orava in northern Slovakia |
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The
town of Lewes
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 A
panorama of Lewes seen from the Castle tower |
| Lewes is the county town of
East Sussex. It dates back to a 9th century Saxon fortification and river crossing, and
the remains of an 11thC Norman castle and barbican stand above the town centre. It lies on
the River Ouse, and (in days when boats were smaller) was an upriver port. |
 Lewes Castle |
Milestones in history
In 1264 the defeat of the Royal army in the battle of Lewes forced the King to
summon a council of knights and burgesses, which is credited with being the first House of
Commons in English history. In the 12thC its Priory was larger than some cathedrals. Lewes
is famous for its bonfire night celebrations each November, commemorating 16th century
religious martyrs, and as the residence of Tom Paine, the 18th century writer and
revolutionary philosopher whose works inspired both the French and American Revolutions.
The town is proud to have one of the few remaining independent breweries, Harvey's of
Lewes. Another lost brewery in the town centre is now an art gallery and craft workshop. |
 Remains of the 12 century Priory |
Nearby
Lewes is not far from the cross-channel port of Newhaven, and less than 10 km from
the large seaside city of Brighton & Hove, host to countless holidaymakers,
international conferences, two Universities and several schools for English language
students. Links to other sites:
Lewes
District (local government site)
Lewes Town
More about Lewes and its history
Local message board
(comment forum and business search) |
 Harvey's brewery has survived
the devastating Ouse river floods seen here in October 2000 |
East Sussex Europe Office
Tourist information Brighton &
Hove
More links to many other local sites
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Search for East Sussex community information:
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 On Brighton beach |
The
21st century is likely to see increasing unity within Europe,
and common trends in economics and politics drawing together the countries of the west,
the centre and the east of Europe.
Interested
in a new link ?
We
would always welcome the development of more contacts in other countries. There is no set
method of doing this. We believe it works well when links can start at a level of
friendship between key people in a region complementary to our own in Sussex. Within a
town or region we would hope to engage the confidence of local government officials, who
would be vital to enabling groups from the local community to respond to the opportunity
of linking. Once friendly contacts are established, exchanges can be developed in art,
education and other cultural activities. Occasionally we have helped with introductions
for professional training, and for commercial and business links, though Lewes Links would
not normally remain involved beyond the process of research and introduction.
Contact us by e-mail now! |
We welcome
approaches from places in other central European countries which would enjoy such
links. |
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